The Fetus: Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses Doppler Ultrasound Giancarlo Mari, MD, MBA Professor and Chair Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology University of Tennessee Health Science Center Memphis, TN
Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses Head Compression Fetal Anemia IUGR and Preeclampsia Ductal constriction Ductus venosus and impending fetal demise
A Few Concepts in Doppler Ultrasound
Doppler Formula Fd = 2(Fc x V x cos α) C Christian J. Doppler was an Austrian physicist who described the Doppler effect in 1842
Doppler Effect: Application to Obstetrics From a transducer, ultrasounds are emitted at a frequency Fc. When they hit a structure that moves (for example, blood flow) they are backscattered and return to the transducer at a different frequency. This different frequency is the Doppler shift (Fd). The Doppler shift increases as the velocity of the blood flow increases (V) and as the cosine of the angle (A) between the ultrasound beam and the direction of the blood flow increases. C is a constant (velocity of the ultrasound in water: 1540 m/sec)
The Doppler shift arrives to the transducer. The information is analyzed, and it is presented as waveforms. Time On the y-axis, there is the velocity value. Some of the old ultrasound equipment reported the Doppler shift on the y-axis.
Types of Doppler Used in Obstetrics There are 4 types of Doppler ultrasound Spectral Doppler. There are two types of spectral Doppler: Pulsed and Continuous Color flow Doppler Power Doppler Tissue Doppler shows tissue motion such as the cardiac wall movements
Direction of Blood Flow Toward the Transducer The waveforms are represented above the baseline
Direction of Blood Flow Away from the Transducer The waveforms are represented below the baseline
Does the velocity value reported on the y-axis of this set of waveforms reflect the real velocity of the blood flow? Based on what we said about the angle and the velocity, the answer is: We do not know. If the angle between the ultrasound beam and the direction of the blood flow was 0, the answer is YES. If the angle was not close to 0, the answer is NO.
Angle Dependence Fd = 2(Fc x V x cos α) C This slide shows the cos α values (horizontal lines) at different angles. When the angle is 90, the cos α = 0. Therefore, the value of the Doppler shift becomes 0. If this value is 0, there is no waveform generated, and no velocity can be measured.
It is not always easy to get an angle of 0 between the ultrasound beam and the direction of the blood flow; therefore, the velocity cannot be accurately measured in all of the cases. This is the reason why we often use angle-independent indices to quantify the waveforms.
Angle-Independent Indices A B = A/B ratio (Stuart et al, 1980) A - B B A - B Mean = = Resistance index (Pourcelot, 1974) Pulsatility index (Gosling and King, 1975)
Angle-Independent Indices These indices are independent of the angle. Therefore, the values do not change significantly when the angle changes The following slides provide a few examples
Angle Dependence Angle 45 Angle close to 0 o
Angle Dependence Flow is perpendicular to angle of incidence (cos 90 o = 0)
Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses Head Compression
MCA and Reversed Flow
Middle Cerebral Artery Reversed flow at the MCA often is not pathologic; rather, it is due to compression of the transducer on the fetal head. Mari G. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009 February 5 (epub)
Causes of Reversal of Flow in the MCA Excessive Transducer pressure Vyas et al Br J Obstet Gynaecol 1990;97:740 Impending fetal death Sepulveda et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1996;174:1645 Cardiac anomalies (unpublished data) Following fetal heart rate decelerations Late and variables
Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses Fetal Anemia
Waveforms of the Circle of Willis Doppler waveforms obtained in the same fetus at: A, middle cerebral artery; B and C, middle cerebral artery and anterior cerebral artery at their origin from the internal carotid artery; D and E, anterior cerebral artery; F, posterior communicating artery; G, posterior cerebral artery. The values indicate the pulsatility index. Mari G. J Ultrasound Med 1994; 13:343-346
Circle of Willis The most studied artery of the Circle of Willis is the middle cerebral artery (MCA)
Mari G, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:1262
Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity The middle cerebral artery can be easily sampled with an angle of 0, and the true velocity of the blood flow can be obtained. The peak systolic velocity (PSV) is the highest point of the waveform. Therefore, for the MCA, we can easily obtain the PI (angle independent) and the PSV (an angle close to 0 is needed).
A C E B D F Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity Steps for the correct sampling of middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity. The use of an angle corrector increases the intra- and inter-observer variability. Therefore, its use is not recommended. Mari G, et al. J Ultrasound Med 2005; 24:425
Where Do We Need to Sample the MCA? Mari G, et al. J Ultrasound Med 2005; 24:425
Where Do We Need to Sample the MCA? The sample volume should be taken soon after the origin of the middle cerebral artery from the internal carotid artery. The artery should be visualized for its entire length, and an angle corrector should not be used. Mari G, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1995; 5:400
Middle Cerebral Artery Mari G, Deter RL. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:1262
Middle Cerebral Artery Peak Systolic Velocity This graph represents the reference range of the middle cerebral artery PSV throughout gestation. Mari G, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol 1995; 5:400
Hemoglobin (gr/dl) 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 Mild Anemia Moderate Anemia Severe Anemia 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40 Gestational Age (weeks) Mari G. et al. N Engl J Med 2000; 342:9 95 50 5
Hemoglobin (gr/dl) 18 17 16 15 14 13 12 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 95 50 5 Mild Anemia Moderate Anemia Severe Anemia Severe Anemia with risk of Hydrops 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 Gestational Age (weeks) Mari G. et al. N Engl J Med 2000; 342:9
1.5 MM Mari G, et al N Engl J Med 2000; 342:9
Multicenter study in 5 tertiary referral centers 125 fetuses at risk for anemia MCA-PSV used for timing a cordocentesis Zimmermann R, et al. Br J Obstet Gynaecol 2002;109:746
Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses Prediction of Preeclampsia and IUGR
Uterine Artery Normal flow velocity waveforms of the uterine artery obtained in a normal pregnancy at 22 weeks gestation. We consider normal a pulsatility index < 1.41 at 20-24 weeks gestation. Mari G. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009 February 5 (epub)
Uterine Artery By ~18 weeks, trophoblasts: Invade the inner 1/3 of the myometrium Migrate through spiral arterioles Spiral arterioles lose the elastic layer Vessels become maximally dilated Brosens et al. Obstet Gynecol Annu 1972, 1:177 Pijnenborg et al. Placenta 1980; 1:3
Utero-Placental Vessels Normal pregnancy Preeclamptic and/or IUGR pregnancy Khong TJ et al, Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1986;93:1049
Uterine Artery A B A, Normal. B, Abnormal. The arrows indicate the notching that is considered abnormal. However, the following slides will clarify why an index is preferable to the notching. Mari G. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009 February 5 (epub)
Uterine Artery A B Q: What is the difference between A and B? Mari G. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009 February 5 (epub)
Uterine Artery A B Q: What is the difference between A and B? A: Speed of recording. Same patient shown; however, a notch appears in B but not in A. Mari G. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2009 February 5 (epub)
1) At what GA should we perform Uterine artery Doppler? 20-24 weeks gestation; 1 st trimester 2) How do we evaluate the results? NPV very high PPV better for high risk patients Bower S, et al. Br J Obstet Gynaecol, 1993;100:989 Harrington K, et al. Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol,1996 7:182 Coleman et al, Ultrasound Obstet Gynecol,2000; 15:7
L Velauthar, et al UOG 2014;43:500-507 Meta-analysis (1866 citation-18 studies) 55974 women 1 st trimester uterine artery -Preeclampsia and IUGR Sensitivity (95% CI) Specificity (95% CI) Early PE 48% (39-56) 92% (89-95) Early IUGR 39% (26-54) 93% (91-95) Any PE 26% (22-31) 93% (90-95) Any IUGR 15% (12-19) 93% (91-95)
Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses Ductal constriction
Indomethacin Ductal constriction and tricuspid regurgitation Oligohydramnios
Mari G, et al. J Clin Ultrasound 1996; 24:185-96
Ductus Arterius Constriction It occurs in 50% of patients treated with indomethacin In 10% of the cases, the effect is severe The ductal constriction is reversible Mari G, et al. J Clin Ultrasound 1996; 24:185-196
Mari G, et al. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1989; 161:1528
Five Top Do Not Miss Diagnoses IUGR Breathing Transitional phase Umbilical vein and Ductus venosus Ductus venosus and sovrahepatic veins
Umbilical Artery Flow velocity waveforms of the umbilical artery in a normal fetus from 11 to 40 weeks. Note the diastole that increases with advancing gestation. This indicates that the placental vascular resistance decreases in the normal fetus with advancing gestation. Reference ranges for the umbilical artery RI, A/B ratio, and PI.
Umbilical Artery: High placental vascular resistance
Mari and Deter. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:1252-70.
MCA pulsatility index Mari and Deter. Am J Obstet Gynecol 1992;166:1252-70. 3 2 1 0!! 13 18 23 28 33 38 43 Gestational age (weeks)
MCA Waveforms at 24 Weeks A = Normal B = Brain sparing effect
Central Venous Circulation Ductus Venosus Biphasic Doppler Waveform First phase ~ ventricular systole Second phase ~ early diastole Nadir ~ late diastole (atrial kick)
S D S D a a Ductus venosus Hemodynamically, these phases (S, D, a) reflect the rapid chronologic change in pressure gradients between the umbilical vein and the right atrium
Fetal Breathing
Umbilical Vein Quantitative assessment: Velocity Qualitative assessment: Pulsation
What are the arrows pointing to?
S D E A a PIV = S a
Central Venous Circulation Ductus Venosus Doppler index is S/A or S-A/A Reflect RV preload
Ductus Venosus
Is Ductus venosus reversed flow an indication for delivery?
DV Transitional Phase DV RF 1 hour later Picconi J, et al. Am J Perinatol 2008; 25:199-203
DV Transitional Phase Forward Flow Transitional Phase Reversed Flow Picconi J, et al. Am J Perinatol 2008; 25:199-203
DV RF 21 days before IUFD DV RF 9 days before delivery
What is the difference among the different sets of waveforms? A B C
a. What is the SIA index and b. What does it indicate? a. Peak systolic velocity Isovolumetric relaxation + a-wave b. Myocardial function Picconi et al J Ultrasound Med 2008;27:1283
Picconi et al J Ultrasound Med 2008;27:1283